• Djibouti launched an AI training program for education inspectors under its 2025–2026 Continuous Training Plan.

• The initiative, led by the Ministry of Education with the OIF and University of Djibouti, runs from October 2025 to January 2026.

• Only 40% of primary and 50% of lower secondary schools in Djibouti had internet access in 2024, highlighting digital inequality challenges.

Djibouti has launched a national training program to equip education inspectors with artificial intelligence (AI) skills as part of its plan to modernize school management and improve educational performance.

The Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFOP) began the initiative on October 12, according to the Djiboutian Information Agency (ADI). The project is managed by the National Education Inspectorate (IGEN) in partnership with the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) and the University of Djibouti. It forms part of the government’s 2025–2026 Continuous Training Plan.

The training is supervised by Houssein Ahmed Assowe, Director of the Center for Research in Mathematics and Digital Sciences and Associate Professor of Computer Science and AI. The program combines theoretical modules, case studies, and hands-on workshops focused on integrating AI into teaching and administrative practices.

Running through multiple sessions until January 2026, the initiative seeks to strengthen inspectors’ ability to use AI tools responsibly and efficiently in areas such as teacher training, educational supervision, and policy planning.

MENFOP said the project aligns with Djibouti’s national strategy for digitalizing education, designed to provide teachers and administrators with skills suited to technological transformation. The move comes amid ongoing disparities in digital access. A study cited by DigitalDefynd found that in 2024, only 40% of primary schools and 50% of lower secondary schools in Djibouti had internet connectivity.

According to the AI Talent Readiness Index for Africa 2025, East Africa ranks as the continent’s second-most dynamic region for integrating digital skills in education, behind North Africa. By launching this program, Djibouti aims to align itself with regional efforts to better prepare education systems for emerging technologies.

MENFOP emphasized that the initiative reflects the government’s broader commitment to adapting the national education system to the transformations driven by AI, fostering improved governance and sustainable pedagogical management.

This article was initially published by Félicien Houindo Lokossou 

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum